Catriona Rowntree's Top 5 Luxury Escapes : Travel

If you’ve always wanted to visit a health retreat, but not known where to start this one’s for you!

Travel expert Catriona Rowntree has done the hard work for you, selecting her top five retreat destinations to kick-start a healthy 2014.

Five Elements – Bali, Indonesia

One of my favourite places to rejuvenate in Bali is Five Elements – a healing centre founded on Balinese traditions. Nestled alongside the sacred Ayung River, this health retreat offers Balinese therapies, a Living Foods Dining Room and Bamboo Mandala Pavilions for sacred arts healing. At Five Elements you will learn to love and respect life and leave feeling relaxed, refreshed and rejuvenated.

Chiva-Som – Hua Hin, Thailand

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Heralded as the ‘Haven of Life’ on the Gulf of Thailand, Chiva-Som is one of my favourite invigorating health retreats. This little slice of heaven will re-set your mind and help you focus on living your life in a more mindful way. Chiva-Som is a one-stop self-restoration service with expert professionals, including: naturopaths, fitness instructors, spa therapists, nutritionists and alternative health practitioners.

The Banjaran – Ipoh, Malaysia

If you are looking to re-set the clock in Malaysia, you can’t go past The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat. This therapeutic wonderland is located in the northern state of Perak, cradled by 280 million-year old towering limestone hills, lush rainforest, regenerating geothermal hot springs, natural caves and cascading waterfalls. I can guarantee you this natural oasis will dissolve your daily stresses and set you well on your path to wellbeing.

Kamalaya – Koh Samui, Thailand

For relaxation and time-out in Thailand, book a stay at the Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary and Holistic Spa Resort. Centred on around a monk’s cave that once served as a place of meditation and spiritual retreat, Kamalaya is the essence of balance and calm. I love this resort’s array of therapeutic and health facilities. Wellness programs on offer include: detox, stress and burnout solutions, yoga, , fitness and weight control, naturopathy and an extensive range of holistic medicine, spa and healing therapies.

Cabarita Ocean Health Retreat – New South Wales, Australia

If you’re looking for somewhere to relax a little closer to home, check out Cabarita Ocean Health Retreat in Casuarina, NSW. With luxurious suites, Cabarita a great place to kick start a healthier and more relaxed lifestyle. My favourite feature of this retreat is its specialised suites, which are designed to represent various overseas countries.

Cabarita offers a variety of services such as yoga, health and wellness consultations, counselling, mind and spirit classes, beauty treatments and bike riding. As a lady who enjoys Australia’s beaches, I love this resort’s close proximity to the ocean, allowing guests to wander the shore at sunrise and sunset. Reduced booking rates are currently available for a limited time on the Luxury Escapes website.